
Every knee walker will be a compromise, and what suits one person may not suit another. I rented two other knee walkers before buying the Weil, and I am now buying a second Weil.
The Roller-Aid an others like it have the advantage of being light and easy to put in a vehicle, and small enough to turn tight corners. They are toy-like in construction. They do not have good padding for the knee, and they do not steer. You have to wrench the front end from side-to-side to turn it. The Roller-Aid another do not track well, so you might look like a drunken sailor veering this way and on the way to your doctor's office. The brakes do not work well.
The mid-weight one that I tried is a bit lighter and shorter than the Weil, and tracks well. Like the Roller-Aid, it does not have actual steering; the front wheels are like shopping cart wheels, it has the same short pad like the Roller-Aid that compresses down to 1/4' when you put your knee on it. The brakes on this mid-weight were dangerously ineffective on a slope. It is solidly but crudely constructted.
The Weil is the longest and heaviest of the three and by far most refined and best looking. The seat can be collapsed (watch your fingers) and the handle-bar column folds onto it for carrying in a vehicle. The seat is spectacular: 19" long, molded with a depression to cup the knee and whole leg, and made of foam of just the right density.
The Weil is not as stable laterally if you lean back, because it has just one wheel in the back. However, I quickly learned not to lean back (why do that anyway?), so that was a very short term disadvantage, and the big advantage of one wheel is that you don't hit your ankle of your good leg when pushing--something that happened to me repeatedly with both the other walkers.
The Weil has real steering, but it is a longer walker, so you might need to make a broken turn to make a tight turn from a narrow hallway. It does not take 17 back-and-forths, as one competitor says. I learned to go by the hall bath door and back into it without a break.If you never learned how to steer a vehicle backwards, you might find this to be tricky, but practice makes perfect.
The Weil has big wheels, which makes it easier to push on thick carpet and much smoother on sidewalks. There are two hand brakes and either one will absolutely stop the walker and can be locked with a thumb lever.The construction, fit and finish are superb. It is twice the machine for the same or less money.
After having the first Weil for several months, I needed to have a second walker to keep downstairs. After reviewing the pros and cons again, I ordered a second Weil from Amazon.
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Medline Medline Weil Knee WalkerProduct Description: This innovative walking aid provides a comfortable alternative to crutches and is ideal for below the knee injuries. The three wheel design turns for easy use at home or outside. A thicker padded seat offers comfort. Comes equiped with locking hand brakes and a large basket. Adjustable bench accommodates heights 4'10" to 6'4".
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